SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                             CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
                          TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported): October 17, 2003


                               Delta Apparel, Inc.
                              ---------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                     Georgia
                                    ---------
                          (State or Other Jurisdiction
                                of Incorporation)


        1-15583                                            58-2508794
     -------------                                      ----------------
(Commission File Number)                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)


2750 Premiere Parkway, Suite 100, Duluth, Georgia             30097
-------------------------------------------------             -----
         (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)


                                 (678) 775-6900
                                 --------------
                         (Registrant's Telephone Number
                              Including Area Code)


                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)      Exhibits.

         99.1   Press release issued by Delta Apparel, Inc. on October 17, 2003.

Item 9.  Regulation F-D Disclosure.

         On October 17, 2003,  Delta Apparel,  Inc. issued its earnings  release
for the fiscal  quarter ended  September 27, 2003.  The earnings  release is set
forth as  Exhibit  99.1 to this  Current  Report and is  incorporated  herein by
reference.  Robert  W.  Humphreys,  President  and  CEO,  will  hold an  analyst
conference  call on  Friday,  October  17,  2003 at 10:00 a.m.  Eastern  Time to
discuss financial  results and give a business update.  The conference call will
be broadcast through the Company's web site at  www.deltaapparel.com.  Investors
may listen to the call by selecting "investor  relations" then "company news." A
replay of the webcast will be available  within one hour of the call and will be
archived at the above address for 30 days following the release.

Item 12.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

         The information set forth under Item 9 above is incorporated  herein by
reference.



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                             DELTA APPAREL, INC.



Date:  October 17, 2003                      /s/  Herbert M. Mueller
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Herbert M. Mueller
                                             Vice President and Chief
                                                Financial Officer



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number    Description

99.1           Press release issued by Delta Apparel, Inc. on October 17, 2003.